We have focused on
the advantages of living in the rainforest, including natural resources for
complex tasks and building materials for complex religious temples, however for
the Mayans, the rainforest made it almost impossible for planting and
controlling the ever-encroaching vegetation. Hot, humid weather was often
stifling, the availability of water depended on seasonal rainfall, and communication
networks were poor. We know from archaeological evidence that the Ancient Maya
grew crops such as beans, squash, avocados and maize (corn). How were they able
to do so in a rainforest? Slash and burn farming is a form of agriculture where
the natural vegetation is cut down and burned as a method of clearing the land
for growing crops. In class, we will examine the Mayan slash-and-burn
agriculture technique in order to analyze the impact this technique has
on soil and the Mayans ability to sustain themselves. Homework Response Question:
Could the Mayans use of the slash-and-burn agricultural method be the best known cause of the Mayans demise, or is something else? Explain and discuss your reasoning! [Due by 10/03/14]
26 comments:
Well the Mayan's used the slash and burn thing they used sorta helped the the demise because with all that Ashe that was going into the soil it made the soil unusable or incapable of growing crops because the nutrients and moister was absorbed by the ash.
CHRISTINE COOPER
PD. 5-6
The theory about the slash-and-burn method killing the Mayans is one of the theories. Another theory is that there was a bug that infected the main crop they ate. Maize. When people ate this crop it got into their system and eventually killed them. Mosquitoes were also thought to be spreading yellow fever that could have caused an epidemic. Lastly, historians have found out that the Mayans may not have been the peaceful people they thought they were. The Mayans were constantly at war with their enemy and had a huge grave site in Guatemala with 45 skeletons in it. In conclusion, though it is a possibility that the slash-and-burn theory seems reasonable, I don't think it's as likely as some of the others.
The last posted comment on September 29, 2014 at 3:33 PM was from Hannah Burchard 7/8 BDF
Of all the theories that exist about what happened to the Mayans, the slash and burn one might be one of the top theories. Its one of the tops because when they use the slash and burn, they probably also burned the soil to make it incapable to grow the necessary crops for dyes and food. Without the crops for food, it might've caused famine for the Mayans and they could've been wiped out from that. Or because of all the ash and smoke from the slash and burn fires, that might've caused diseases for the Mayans. So yea, probably the slash and burn method wiped out the Mayans.
~MIRCOLE LACSON!!!
The slash and burn could have been one of the possible theories but there could be another reason as to why they all went demise. The slash and burn could have been going well at first, but in a while the soil could have become dry and hard to grow crops, so the mayans could have died from hunger or the air was bad to breathe in because all the tress were removed.
~JinJoo Lee 7,8 BDF
Julianna sterling
The slash and burn method is one of the best theories for the cause of the Mayan demise because it would've allowed a civilization to pop up quickly, but after a long period of time it would've caused famine for the people because the crops would erode away, and the people wouldn't have anything to eat.
John Maguire
The slash and burn could very well be the demise of the Mayans. It could be the demise because it could ruin the soil and could damage land. Another possibility could be that the Mayans suffered from a major outbreak of disease. The disease is very likely to happen because they have medicine, but not as advanced as us so they could survive.
Yes, the slash-and-burn technique could be the cause of the Mayans demise. One of the reasons why it caused their demise is that after a long period of time after the process has been used over and over again, the soil would have become infertile and unusable. Abdullah Siddiqui
Makayla Joseph
The mayans slash and burn agricultural method could have been the best because the mayans do not have nice fertile soil to grow the crops they need to survive. So they had nothing to eat. They could have died of starvation.
Destin Ames
The slash and burn method could be the fall of the Maya. The ash from the burnt logs would get into the soil. And an abundance of ash is bad for the soil.
The slash and burn method/theory may have been the cause of the Mayans demise, but it could also been the starting point of many other possibilities that may have ended the Mayan Civilization. When the Mayans cut down all the trees, they exposed the dirt to erosion and the elements. They would, for a short period of time, be able to plant their crops and farm. During that short period of time, the Mayans would continue to harvest their crops and survive. However, there are theories that the Maize they planted became diseased from a species of plant hopper (which would kill people).Also, it is thought that the Mayans crops would be killed during the seasons of drought (which also kills people). This contributes to both the Disease and the Famine Theory. After the short period of time, (about 3-5 years) the soil would become useless. Now that the Mayans don't have anymore means of producing their own food, they would have to move onto warfare. They would have to attack other tribes and cities for their land and their food. War back then was very bloody, so those who didn't want to be involved deserted, and those who were in it were most likely killed. So, in conclusion, the fall of the Mayans was not only caused be their misuse of the land, but by all of the theories combined.
comment above on October 1st at 4:48 pm from Saige Oechsli p.7-8 bdf
Maryam alnaseri
5/6 bdf
The slash and burn could be one of the best known cause of the Mayans demise, but there are other theories like the spread of diseases by a certain bug on their corn. The theory of the slash and burn method says the Mayans could of harmed the soil by the ashes of the fire they used to chop trees and having too much soil exposed by the rain. They might of not survived for long because crops on any harmed soil will not last for a long period of time. However theories say that a bug on their corn could of wiped out most of the population. If you put the two theories together then maybe we could answer the mystery. Once the burning started the bug didn't have a place to live at. Since they didn't have any home they moved to the corn, which the Mayans ate. That started the virus and wiped out half of the population. Scared of getting the virus, the rest of the Mayans left their city.
The slash and burn technique could be the cause of the mayans demise because since they burned down the remains it could of burnt the soil and then they wouldnt have any fertile soil to plant crops. and without crops the mayans couldnt survive
Brandon Scholl
The slash-and-burn agricultural method be the best known cause of the Mayans demise, but there are others too. Such as warfare,and disease. The slash and burn was used to make rich soil to help the plants grow healthier and faster. n class I learned that the slash and burn method only lasts three to five years then the land would no longer be able to support them. Eventually there would be along drought so that would lead to death or them leaving their city.
collin sokola
the slash and burn thing could have helped with the demise of the Mayans. the short run it would help them but after 3-5 years the nutrients in the soil would have eroded away. this will have sent them into a difficult period to find food and with their great numbers they just might not have survived.
The slash-and-burn method is the best known cause of the Mayans demise because, it gives the crops a "longer-lasting" type of soil to grow. This will benefit the Mayan population because they will get more food. Also, they can grow crops wherever they want because with the slash-and-burn method, which is, that they burn trees, and certain areas of land to make new land for farming crops, they can live in any specific area that they want and make better, long-lasting soil that will make more crops and food for the Mayans.
Rachel Arion 5/6 BDF
My idea is that all three of the choices we observed during class could be correct and sadly we may never know what happened to the mayans but I do know the slash and burn technique did hurt the mayan's chances or survival in that specific idea. Therefore slash/burn caused more harm than good for the mayans. The slash and burn technique did efficiently and quickly dispose of the wooded areas it also caused lack of fertile soil in that area for a decaded after 3-5 years or use to replenish the soil.
Marilyn Chen periods: 7-8 bdf
The slash and burn method was not what caused the disappearance. It was a disease caused by a bug that carries a virus, and it got to the Mayans food and infected the people. The slash and burn method might have had a little effect but I think it was mainly the virus.
5/6 BDF Kade Johnson
Sayuri Velazco PD: 7/8 BDF
The slash and burnt method is the most likely theory to have caused the demise of the Mayans. The slash and burn method would have provided rich soil for 3-5 years but after that the soil and nutrients would erode. After this happened the soil would take 10 years to regain its nutrients. The slash and burn method could have allowed the population to grow rapidly at first because there were still nutrients in the soil. But, once they eroded away the population would rapidly decrease because the crops couldn't provide enough food for the now large population.
Well the slash and burn method May as well be a reason of the demise if the Mayans but when the Mayans cut down and burned the trees the soil was damaged making it good for about 3-5 years. As the trees were cutting down the crops were growing bringing the disease to the most common crop,the maize. This made the virus spread even faster, so the theories are all connected
Dylan Bennish
I believe that slash and burn is part of the reason the Mayans demised, not all of it though. I believe that heavy rain and drought ruined the crops which made bugs come and poison the crops and a lot of the people. Slash and burn is part of the reason because that agriculture only works for a little while, then it dies out, which supports famine.
I think their slash and burn technique was not the thing that killed all of the Mayans. Their soil would not run out of fertility that fast. I think something else killed them. How can 2,000 people per square mile all die at once? It definitely could not be from starvation so something else had to have made them disappear.
The slash and burn method of asgricuutre that the mayans used could of been a really good posibility of their demise.It could of been why they left because slashing down all ur resources and trees and then burning all their water from the ground is a bad thing. the slash and burn is bad because if there is no water you cant grow any crops so you will have to starve.
ROBERT STUETZ
5/6 BDF
The slash and burn method could be one of the reasonings because of ashes going down in the soil will kill all the nutrients in the soil and then the crops will eventually die.. Then there would be very little food source then the Mayans would die.
Emily Hanes
It is believable that the slash and burn theory was most accurate, and it could have gotten rid of the Mayans, because, once they chopped down the trees, they had to burn them and when they burned them, it took away a lot of their resources and it could have messed up the soil. They probably thought that they were clearing land as a good thing, and they actually ruined everything. This could have made them realize that they had to find place with more resources.
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